Ethical Non Cognitivism​: UGC NET Philosophy Notes & Study Material

Ethical non-cognitivism is the concept that moral statements are not a matter of fact. Rather than saying something is the case or not, it says that moral statements are expressions of our feelings or attitudes. For example, if someone declares, "cheating is bad," non-cognitivism believes that they are merely conveying their distaste for cheating. It does not believe moral statements can be confirmed as true or false like facts. This view states that when people make moral judgments, they are not stating a fact but sharing their opinions. Non-cognitivism is different from other ethical theories that say moral statements can be true or false. It focuses on emotions, attitudes, and personal preferences rather than objective truths. It also suggests that people's moral beliefs can change based on their feelings or experiences. Non-cognitivists believe that the moral judgment is not true for every person, but the expression in individual minds. This encourages us to consider morality more as a personal thing rather than something one can agree with.

Ethical Non Cognitivism is a vital topic to be studied for the philosophy related exam such as the UGC NET Philosophy.

In this article the readers will be able to know about the following:

• Introduction to Ethical Non Cognitivism
• Explanation of Ethical Non Cognitivism

Introduction to Ethical Non Cognitivism

This is the importance of ethical non-cognitivism because it makes us think differently about moral rules. It does not make us believe there is a fixed truth about right and wrong but suggests that our morals come from how we feel. For instance, one person might think lying is wrong because it breaks trust, but another person might not feel the same way. This further proves that there is no right or wrong answer for everybody. It teaches the point that people's opinions of what is moral can be different because of their own experiences. This also explains why people from different cultures or backgrounds may have different views on what is right. Since non-cognitivism is based on feelings, it means that people's morals can change over time. For instance, think of a situation where a person might believe something is fine at the moment but later change their mind due to some new emotions or experiences. It tells us that moral judgments are often a matter of personal feelings. Finally, non-cognitivism brings us to the understanding of how the thing we believe to be right or wrong may actually be an emotion rather than universal truths.

Fig: Ethical Non Cognitivism

Explanation of Ethical Non Cognitivism

Ethical non-cognitivism is the view that moral statements are not facts. Instead of being true or false, these statements express our feelings and attitudes. It believes that when we say something is right or wrong, we are just sharing how we feel, not stating a fact.

Moral Statements Express Feelings

According to ethical non-cognitivism, moral statements, such as "stealing is wrong," are not facts but expressions of feelings. For example, if one says "lying is bad," one just expresses how much they abhor lying. Non-cognitivism believes that statements about morals are only there to express emotion rather than making something true. It goes to show that the bases of moral judgments depend more on personal feelings than objective fact. If someone says "helping others is good," they are sharing their positive feelings about helping. Their statement is about their own opinion, not an objective truth. People can have different feelings, so moral views can change from person to person. Non-cognitivism helps us understand that not everyone agrees on what is right or wrong because we each feel differently.

Non-Cognitivism and Emotions

Ethical non-cognitivism shows us that emotions are big in morality. It tells us that moral decisions are based on how we feel in a certain situation. For instance, if you feel sad every time you see someone getting hurt, then you might conclude that hurting others is bad. That feeling is what non-cognitivism claims that morality comes from emotions, not from facts. Different people might have different emotions about the same action, which is why they might have different ideas about what is right or wrong. This theory also suggests that emotions can change over time. For instance, a person might change their view on an issue as their feelings change. Non-cognitivism teaches us to consider how our emotions affect our judgments of what is right and wrong.

Culture in Non-Cognitivism

Ethical non-cognitivism can explain why different people from different cultures have differing moral views. Morality, because it is based on emotions and personal feelings, varies from one culture to another. For instance, one culture might feel that eating certain foods is wrong, while another culture sees it as perfectly okay. Non-cognitivism understands that people have their moral beliefs because of feelings that are formed through experience and culture. Non-cognitivism implies, for example, that what is considered proper in one place is wrong in another. This makes the understanding of moral rules clear to the fact that people's feelings and what they may believe is right influence everything. Non-cognitivism reminds us to be open-minded about other people's moral beliefs because they are influenced by various experiences and feelings.

Conclusion

In ethical non-cognitivism, therefore, moral statements do not state facts; they may express emotions or attitudes. Therefore, when I say, "This is wrong," then I am not stating it as a fact but letting you feel how I am feeling concerning it. Non-cognitivism holds a position that moral statements cannot be evaluated for truth or falseness. On the contrary, it understands them as means to simply state approval and disapproval. This theory asserts that one's moral opinion can be relative to their emotion or feeling or experience. Morality according to this theory is more individualistic than being absolute. Non-cognitivism also demonstrates the fact that two different people can hold different opinions about one issue. It enables us to understand why moral beliefs tend to be subjective in human beings through emotions, culture, and background. One may even not agree to non-cognitivism, as it gives them a very different perspective concerning ethics. Finally, it requires us to question how private feelings lead to the assessment of morality about what is right or wrong.

Ethical Non cognitivism is a vital topic for UGC NET Philosophy examination. It would help if you learn similar topics with the Testbook App.